April 18, 2026

01 Trending

Blurb:

President Donald Trump‘s administration on Thursday announced sanctions against more than 20 Iranian individuals and entities responsible for the Islamic Republic’s deadly crackdown on protesters and skirting of international sanctions on the country’s oil output.

Trump previously promised to “help” protesters after the Iranian government responded to nationwide demonstrations by killing thousands of its own citizens. For days, the president’s national security team had prepared military options for Trump to choose from, with American officials signaling that U.S. airstrikes could hit Iran in the near future.

Blurb:

Former President Bill Clinton — who famously palled around with deceased sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein — refused to testify before the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday.

Clinton was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee for closed-door testimony in regards to the House’s probe into Epstein but never showed. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said “not a single Democrat” showed up to the deposition either.

Following Clinton’s no-show, Comer said, “We will move next week in the House Oversight Committee … to hold Bill Clinton in contempt of Congress.”

Blurb:

At least 16 colleges closed in 2025 and more could be coming this year. Higher education economists provided comments to The College Fix on what is driving these closures and what the future could look like.

The shutdowns followed 14 other closures in 2023 and 28 in 2024, according to data from Inside Higher Ed and the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association.

Over the past eight years, more than 100 colleges have closed or merged, The Fix previously reported. A Federal Reserve study published in 2024 predicted 80 colleges would close in the next five years – meaning an average of 16 per year.

Blurb:

According to CBS News, the United States and Denmark still have “fundamental” disagreements over Greenland’s future, but discussions will continue following a White House meeting this week. Denmark’s foreign minister, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, described the talks as “frank but constructive,” focused on Greenland’s long-term security. The meeting included Greenland’s foreign minister, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and senior U.S. officials—underscoring the seriousness with which Washington is treating the issue.

Blurb:

Fox News host Griff Jenkins told Democratic Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey point-blank on Wednesday that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are in his city to detain illegal immigrant criminals.

Frey called on ICE to “get the f*** out” of Minneapolis in the aftermath of Renee Good’s death, who was shot by an ICE agent after she appeared to accelerate her car toward the officer during an enforcement operation.

Jenkins and Frey sparred on “Fox & Friends” while the host noted that ICE operations have ramped up across the U.S. to arrest illegal immigrants who crossed the border during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

Blurb:

A new poll reveals the 2026 Senate race in Michigan will likely be a fiercely contested battle, with Republican Mike Rogers holding narrow leads in hypothetical matchups against Democrat candidates.

The poll, “conducted Jan. 2-6 for The Detroit News and WDIV-TV,” matches up Republican former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers against three leading Democrat candidates in a bid for the seat of Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich, who is not seeking another term.

The Rogers campaign declared the poll a win, as spokeswoman Alyssa Brouillet wrote in a statement, “poll after poll continues to show that working families are rallying behind Mike Rogers.

 

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[UPDATE] Thomas More Society has filed an emergency application to the Supreme Court on behalf of its clients, California teachers and parents, to block state law that requires teachers to hide students’ gender confusion from their parents.

The appeal was filed on January 8 after a panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit stayed an injunction blocking the laws.

Paul M. Jonna, special counsel for Thomas More Society and a partner at LiMandri & Jonna LLP, argued,

“Right now, California’s parental deception scheme is keeping families in the dark and causing irreparable harm. That’s why we’re asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene immediately. The state is inserting itself unconstitutionally between parents and children, forcing schools to deceive families, and punishing teachers who tell the truth.”

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on the emerging need for massive data centers to power AI brains every nation-state will now need to be a world power in the years to come. He offered a carrot to the main sides of the incoming debate, the taxpayers who may be on the hook to pay for the data centers, the locals affected by the data centers and the corporatists relying on those data centers for personal power.

He characterized it in the American context, writing, “We are the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World, and Number One in AI. Data Centers are key to that boom, and keeping Americans FREE and SECURE but, the big Technology Companies who build them must ‘pay their own way,” His post does not address another conflict-of-interest crisis, water resources, which are also needed in large volumes to fund the AI brains.

Blurb:

Trump seeks to quell data center rebellion – Washington Post

In a bid to tamp down growing unrest in communities over tech giants’ expansion of power-hungry data centers, President Donald Trump said his administration would push Silicon Valley companies to ensure their massive computer farms do not drive up people’s electricity bills, seizing on a promise Tuesday by Microsoft to be a better neighbor.

The Trump administration has gone all in on artificial intelligence, pushing aside concerns within the MAGA movemen and seeking to sweep away regulations that it says hamper innovation. But neighbors of the vast warehouses of computer chips that form the technology’s backbone – many of them in areas otherwise supportive of the president – have grown increasingly concerned about how the facilities sap power from the grid, guzzle water to stay cool and secure tax breaks from local governments. And Trump now appears to be recalibrating his approach.

“We are the ‘HOTTEST’ Country in the World, and Number One in AI. Data Centers are key to that boom, and keeping Americans FREE and SECURE but, the big Technology Companies who build them must ‘pay their own way,’” Trump said Monday in a post on his Truth Social site, teasing Microsoft’s announcement of an initiative to address the issue and framing it as part of a broader effort by his administration.

In a sure sign that even the far-left is about to go all-in on the AI brain race, Progmerican Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker has signed legislation that ends a decades-long ban on new construction of large-scale nuclear power plants in the state. The move should be seen as a telegraph the left’s Green Deal may be over in favor of AI Justice

Blurb:

Illinois Governor Signs Legislation Ending Moratorium On New Large-Scale Nuclear Plants  NucNet
from news.google.com

Illinois governor J. B. Pritzker has signed into law a wide-ranging energy reform package that includes the lifting of a longtime ban on new large-scale nuclear power plants in the state.

For three dedaces, Chinese citizens would not pay taxes on contraceptives, which includes drugs and condoms. Now, Chairman Xi has ordered a 13% value-added tax on contraceptives to discourage fertility. The move comes as the population has dropped for three years in a row, and the drop is only expected to plummet in upcoming years.

Blurb:

China taxes condoms, contraceptive drugs in bid to spur birth rate – Reuters
from news.google.com

HONG KONG, Jan 2 (Reuters) – China removed a three-decade-old tax exemption on contraceptive drugs and ​devices from January 1 in new steps ‌to spur a flagging birth rate.

Condoms and contraceptive pills now ‌incur value-added tax of 13%, the standard rate for most consumer goods.

The move comes as Beijing struggles to boost birth rates in the world’s second-largest economy. ⁠China’s population fell ‌for a third consecutive year in 2024 and experts have cautioned the downturn will ‍continue.

China exempted childcare subsidies from personal income tax and rolled out an annual childcare subsidy last year, following ​a series of “fertility-friendly” measures in 2024, such as ‌urging colleges and universities to provide “love education” to portray marriage, love, fertility and family in a positive light.

Despite the security provided President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela by his two strongest allies, Russia and China, U.S. forces were able to quickly enter the country and within less than 3 hours return with Maduro and his wife to the U.S. Reports of advanced military tech being used to easily overcome Venezuelan forces equipped in mid-range Chinese and Russian military tech have not been confirmed.

The move sends a powerful message to China and Russia’s allies that their protection might be no protection at all. Currently, Maduro is facing “evolving charges.” His VP has taken over and, as of now, appears to be willing to cooperate with the U.S. The role of Exxon in developing the oil earmarked for America (for resale on the market) is in doubt after the CEO went afoul of President Trump.

Blurb:

Shed no tears for Nicolas Maduro – the Left’s anger at Donald Trump is remarkable – ww.express.co.uk

An early contender for photograph of the year has to be this image of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro with his hands bound, wearing ear defenders and giant dark glasses denying him any form of vision. Let’s be clear: shed no tears for this dictatorial tyrant. He stole an election, condemned his country to eye-watering inflation of over 200% and imprisoned opponents or allowed them to be “vanished.” What is remarkable is the contrived anger from the Liberal Left, who have worshiped crooked Marxist Maduro for years.

We live in a world – more for worse than better – of ‘strong men,’ as evidenced by the likes of Maduro along with the likes of Putin, Jong Un and Xi. Therefore, why is it so wrong for another ‘strong man’ to try and stand up to one of them and remove a callous dictator?

Any hope of the war in Ukraine ending anytime soon has all-but ended with Russia’s final response to the U.S.-led ceasefire proposal. The final sticking point was over the “security guarantees” in the form of U.S. and European troop support in presence. Putin called this nothing more than “foreign intervention.” To emphasize their point, they also now claim that the push by British and European nations to build more military infrastructure in Ukraine will make their troops viable targets.

Blurb:

Putin REJECTS Trump Ukraine peace plan as British soldiers branded ‘legitimate targets’ –  www.mirror.co.uk

Russia has rejected a peace deal in Ukraine and branded British soldiers “legitimate military targets” in a chilling new threat amid fears of a ‘significant air strike’ on Kyiv.

Reacting to the new US-European proposal to provide Ukraine with security guarantees if a ceasefire is reached, the Kremlin branded the move “foreign intervention” – and claimed it would pose a direct “threat” to Russian security.

It comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a new plan to set up military ‘hubs’ in Ukraine in the event of a deal to protect the country from another invasion.

The financial industry is already pushing back against President Trump’s calls to put a 1-year cap on credit card interest rates at 10%. The President declared on Truth Social, “Please be informed that we will no longer let the American Public be ‘ripped off’ by Credit Card Companies that are charging Interest Rates of 20 to 30%, and even more, which festered unimpeded during the Sleepy Joe Biden Administration. AFFORDABILITY!

Effective January 20, 2026, I, as President of the United States, am calling for a one year cap on Credit Card Interest Rates of 10%. Coincidentally, the January 20th date will coincide with the one year anniversary of the historic and very successful Trump Administration.”

Blurb:

“I, as President of the United States, am calling for a one year cap on Credit Card Interest Rates of 10%.”

In what will surely be hailed as a massive gift to America, President Donald Trump announced Friday night that all credit card interest rates will be capped at 10% for one year. This would lift the burden for many Americans who have been struggling under the weight of high-interest rate debt.

Blurb:


The decision to reclassify marijuana for its medical benefits is neither a catastrophe nor a simple victory but is instead a policy shift that allows faithful Christians to reject the cultural chaos of recreational drug use without abandoning those dealing with illness and pain.


A week before Christmas, President Donald Trump reclassified marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, a move that would finally recognize what millions know from experience: Cannabis has legitimate medical applications. “People who struggle with chronic pain, including the elderly, cancer patients, and wounded soldiers, have spent years begging for this change,” Trump told reporters.

Former Vice President Mike Pence’s foundation immediately attacked the move as “a win for the weed industry.” In addition, 26 House Republicans warned that it “will send the wrong message to children, worsen addiction issues, and give billions in tax cuts to the weed industry.”

They’re not entirely wrong. But wounded veterans are still suffering.

The Anti-ICE States of California, Washington, New York, and the far-left city-state Washington D.C. are seeing its tourist numbers drop precipitously as the violence they continue to foment and protect drives both domestic and international tourists away. Losses vary, but the numbers across the board start at 15% reductions in every major tourist market. Here is the full breakdown from Travel and Tour World.

Blurb:

California Joins Washington, New York, Oregon, Washington DC and More US States Facing Deep Tourism Crisis Amid Political Tension in American Skies, New Update is Here  Travel And Tour World
from news.google.com

California, Washington, New York, Oregon, Washington D.C., and several other key US states are now facing an alarming tourism crisis, as political tensions continue to shake the very foundation of their once-thriving tourism industries. Political unrest, border issues, and immigration disputes have triggered a significant decline in tourist arrivals, affecting local economies across the nation. California, traditionally a major draw for international tourists, is seeing its visitor numbers plummet as political instability spreads like wildfire.

US States like Washington, New York, and Oregon are not far behind, with federal policies making their mark on the travel sector. Major tourist destinations in Washington D.C., including historical landmarks, are also suffering as visitors steer clear, unsure about the safety of traveling during these turbulent times. The ripple effect is undeniable, with businesses across tourism-dependent regions feeling the strain. Washington D.C., New York, and Oregon are all facing the same grim reality: a deep tourism crisis that shows no sign of improving.

President Donald Trump is touting the $18 trillion in foreign investments in America, calling it America’s Martial plan. As The Federalist pointed out, that’s equivalent to 120 Marshall Plans. The Federalist also contrasted this “Marshall Plan” with the “Green” Martial plan that saw nation-states, including America, invest $20 trillion in a project to reduce carbon emissions that produced next to no substantive carbon emission reductions.

Blurb:

Trump’s Foreign Policy Is Delivering 120 ‘Marshall Plans’ To U.S. – thefederalist.com

$20 trillion is a lot of money.

One would expect a big bang to follow the spending of twenty-thousand billion dollars. It’s a lot of money! It’s pretty much the total present value of America’s GDP.

This is the estimated sum that was globally spent — largely by Europe and the United States — in a coordinated effort by the developed world to decarbonize the global economy. China, in contrast, sold the world windmills and solar panels while it opened a new coal-fired power plant per month.

What was the net effect of this “green” Marshall Plan? Consumption of hydrocarbons, also known as “fossil fuels,” continued to increase anyway. All that was achieved was a tiny reduction, just 2 percent, in the share of overall energy supplied by hydrocarbons. Put simply, as the energy pie got bigger and all forms of energy supply increased, hydrocarbons ended up with a slightly smaller share of a larger pie.

Blurb:

One of the biggest problems — of many — that President Donald Trump identified under his predecessor’s regime involved the soaring cost of living to which many Americans were subjected.

By that same token, Trump also appears cognizant that one of the initiatives he supports, the investment in and proliferation of artificial intelligence, could very well lead to Americans feeling the same sort of squeeze they felt under former President Joe Biden.

Aware of that, the president took to Truth Social to issue a mandate to tech companies, saying they will not be allowed to jack up American utility bills.

Blurb:

President Donald Trump earlier signaled support for protests in the Islamic Republic and threatened new strikes

The US has opened a new air and missile defense coordination cell at a key airbase in Qatar amid rising tensions with Iran and President Donald Trump’s promises to assist protesters in the Islamic Republic.

In a statement on Tuesday, US Central Command said the facility at the Al Udeid Air Base, which houses some 10,000 troops, will be comprised of American and allied personnel and seeks to “enhance integrated air and missile defense.” The new cell is also intended to tighten information-sharing, threat warning, drills and joint responses for air and missile defense, US officials said.

Reuters reported, citing three unnamed diplomats, that some personnel had been advised to leave the base by Wednesday evening for unknown reasons. The agency noted that the US took the same measures ahead of strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last summer, while the Al Udeid Air Base came under a retaliatory attack from Tehran at the time.


 

The move comes amid soaring US-Iran tensions, with Trump offering symbolic support for the riots, which began in late December as protests over the sharp devaluation of the Iranian rial and the sanctioned country’s cost-of-living crisis. The US president, in particular, has urged Iranians to keep protesting and said “HELP IS ON ITS WAY,” while also warning of “very strong” action in case of a harsh crackdown on rioters. At the same time, Trump did not rule out talks with Iran.

Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said Tehran did not seek war but was prepared for it, and Iranian officials have warned neighboring states that host US forces that they could face retaliation if Washington attacks. Officials in Tehran have also insisted that the US and Israel had had a “big hand” in fostering the current protests.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qatar have privately pressed Washington not to strike Iran, warning that a conflict could trigger severe regional instability and disrupt oil markets, the Wall Street Journal reported.

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from www.rt.com

Blurb:

A train derailed in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday after a construction crane fell on three of its carriages, ‌killing at least 25 people and injuring about 80, police said.

The accident took place on Wednesday morning in the Sikhio district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, 230 km northeast of Bangkok, on a train from ‍the capital bound for Ubon Ratchathani province.

“The death ‍toll has now ‍reached 25. The search for more bodies is ongoing,” Police Colonel ⁠Thatchapon Chinnawong told Reuters by phone.

Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said in a statement that there were 195 ​people on board, adding that he had ordered a thorough investigation to be carried out.

Blurb:

States that have sanctuary cities protecting illegal aliens and their dangerous criminal element as of February 1 will no longer receive any form of federal funding, President Donald Trump announced Tuesday during an address at the Detroit Economic Club.

The U.S. simply can’t afford to subsidize the millions of illegal aliens currently in the U.S. – especially since many of them are a threat to American citizens, Trump warned:

“Many of those people are murderers. They’re people released from jails, prisons, mental institutions, insane asylums. They’re people that are drug dealers, they’re addicts.”

If states and cities continue to protect people who break U.S. immigration laws, they’ll have to do so without the help of federal funding, Pres. Trump said:

“Starting Feb. 1, we’re not making any payments to sanctuary cities or states having sanctuary cities because they do everything possible to protect criminals at the expense of American citizens.”

Blurb:

“The retirement grade determination process directed by Secretary Hegseth will be completed within forty five days.”

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced on Monday that the Pentagon is taking administrative action against Senator Mark Kelly, a former Navy Captain, for his role in a late 2025 video in which he and other lawmakers, dubbed the “Seditious Six,” called for active duty troops to “refuse illegal orders.” Hegseth said that the Pentagon has initiated “retirement grade determination proceedings,” with a reduction in grade resulting in a reduction in retired pay.

Hegseth said, “Six weeks ago, Senator Mark Kelly — and five other members of Congress — released a reckless and seditious video that was clearly intended to undermine good order and military discipline. As a retired Navy Captain who is still receiving a military pension, Captain Kelly knows he is still accountable to military justice. And the Department of War — and the American people — expect justice.”

Blurb:

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed extradition paperwork Tuesday to seek the prosecution of a California abortionist accused of illegally shipping abortion pills into the state.

Landry is vowing to hold accountable those who undermine Louisiana’s pro-life laws and endanger women and unborn children.

“I am signing the extradition paperwork to bring this California doctor to justice,” Landry posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Louisiana has a zero tolerance policy for those who subvert our laws, seek to hurt women, and promote abortion.”

The Republican governor added: “I know Gavin Newsom supports abortion in all its forms, but that doesn’t work in Louisiana. We are unapologetically pro-life.”

Blurb:

BRASILIA: Brazil’s Supreme Court has rejected former president Jair Bolsonaro’s request to convert his prison sentence for plotting a coup to house arrest, according to a ruling published Thursday (Jan 1).

Bolsonaro’s lawyers submitted the request Wednesday, citing a “real risk of a sudden worsening” in health for the far-right ex-leader as the reason to serve his 27-year sentence at home.

Bolsonaro, 70, has been hospitalised for more than a week after undergoing surgery for a groin hernia and then a procedure to treat recurring bouts of hiccups.

“Contrary to what the defense alleges, there has been no worsening of Jair Messias Bolsonaro’s health condition”, judge Alexandre de Moraes stated in his decision.

Blurb:

CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — Dozens of people are presumed dead and about 100 injured, most of them seriously, following a fire at a bar in a Swiss Alps resort town during a New Year’s celebration, police said Thursday.

“Several tens of people” were killed at the bar, Le Constellation, Valais Canton police commander Frédéric Gisler said during a news conference.

Work is underway to identify the victims and inform their families but “that will take time and for the time being it is premature to give you a more precise figure,” Gisler said, adding that the community is “devastated.”

Beatrice Pilloud, Valais Canton attorney general, said it was too early to determine the cause of the fire. Experts have not yet been able to go inside the wreckage.

Blurb:

More than two weeks after the December 19 deadline to release records tied to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, the Department of Justice (DOJ) says it is still working through a vast backlog of unreleased material.

The DOJ acknowledges that millions of documents remain under review.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York, the department disclosed that:

“There are more than 2 million documents potentially responsive to the Act that are in various phases of review.”

Blurb:

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson on Sept. 18, 2025, when he announced that eight people federally charged for allegedly billing for services they didn’t provide through the Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services. (Photo by Michelle Griffith/Minnesota Reformer)

The career prosecutor overseeing the sprawling federal investigation into social program fraud in Minnesota resigned abruptly this week.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson was one of at least six senior lawyers to leave the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota on Tuesday, according to the New York Times and other outlets.

Thompson was the top lieutenant of Daniel N. Rosen, an appointee of President Donald Trump. He served as the acting U.S. Attorney for Minnesota last year before Rosen’s confirmation.

Blurb:

 

The BBC will file a motion to dismiss U.S. President Donald Trump‘s $10-billion lawsuit over its editing of a speech that made it appear he had directed supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol.

Court documents published late on Monday showed the broadcaster would argue that the court in Florida lacked personal jurisdiction in the case because it did not broadcast the program in the state, and that the president could not prove damages because he was re-elected after it aired.

Blurb:

President Donald Trump suggested during an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity that military action against Mexican drug cartels could be coming within the next several weeks.

Trump pointed to recent U.S. military action in the lead-up to the capture of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, which included more than two-dozen maritime strikes on Venezuelan and Colombian drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific.

“We’ve knocked out 97% of the drugs coming in by water, and we are going to start now hitting land, with regard to the cartels. The cartels are running Mexico, it’s very sad to watch and see what’s happened to that country,” the president said. Trump also pointed to the cost of drug-trafficking in the United States, which has led to more than 100,000 overdose deaths on a yearly basis.

Blurb:

Iranian protesters are burning the tomb of Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic revolution in Iran in ’79.

The leftwing media loved him.